'He really liked helping people': Family of slain Nanaimo man speaks out
CTV
The family of the 29-year-old man fatally stabbed by a stranger in a Nanaimo park last week has issued a statement condemning the "random violence" by "thugs" that led to his death.
Fred Parsons was killed while out walking in Maffeo Sutton Park with two companions on the night of Sept. 6, according to a statement from his mother Cindy.
Cindy's statement, which is embedded at the end of this story, describes her son as "handsome, funny, gentle, generous, goofy, thoughtful (and) unique," and aims to counter what she describes as "hurtful rumours" circulating on social media.
"Fred and his gentle friends had no alcohol and no drugs," the statement reads, adding that they were not homeless.
"Fred and his friends are kind, cheerful, gentle, innocent, respectful, harmless, hard-working young adults who were victims of random violence by unknown-to-them thugs. They each lived in homes surrounded by caring people."
Police have previously said they were called to the park around 11:30 p.m. on the night of the attack for reports of a group of young people intimidating a security guard.
When they arrived, they found the 29-year-old victim – now identified as Fred – suffering from stab wounds. He was taken to hospital, but did not survive.
Police also found a 22-year-old man who had been bear-sprayed. They arrested a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old at the scene, but those people were released without charges on Thursday.
On Friday, court documents showed that teenager Mark Harrison, born in 2003, had been charged with second-degree murder.
